Weekend getaway from Delhi · #6 of 10
Jim Corbett National Park
India's oldest national park - tiger safaris, elephant herds and riverside resorts in the Himalayan foothills. Core safari zones close in the monsoon.
India's oldest national park (born 1936!), Jim Corbett packs wild tiger grasslands and dense sal forests along the Ramganga and Kosi. Drive 250 km from Delhi to Ramnagar for a weekend of cozy riverside resort evenings, the sacred Garjiya Devi temple, and a thrilling dawn jeep safari through Bijrani or Jhirna.
Getting there
The classic road trip route to Ramnagar, the park's gateway. Pro tip: dodge the Friday and Sunday evening rush hour around Ghaziabad to save yourself some major travel time.
Catch a direct train from Delhi to Ramnagar and let your resort handle the pickup. It is the ultimate hack to arrive fresh for your dawn safari without doing a sleepless night drive.
Day 1
Riverside vibes, a cliffside temple, and prepping for the wild- 15:30 AMDrive
Drive Delhi to Ramnagar
Hit NH 9 before dawn to beat the rush. Watch the dusty plains turn into lush Kashipur farmland and Kumaon foothills, pulling into the Ramnagar-Dhikuli resort strip by midday.
Tip · Make sure your safari permit is locked in before you hit the road; everything runs out of Ramnagar and spots fill up fast!
- 28:30 AMFood
Dhaba breakfast near Gajraula
Gajraula's iconic dhaba strip is the ultimate pitstop. Fuel up on piping-hot parathas loaded with white butter, sweet cutting chai, and quick puri-sabzi before the highway narrows.
- 312:30 PMStay
Check in to a Kosi riverside resort
Dhikuli, just north of Ramnagar, lines the Kosi with gorgeous resorts, from luxury jungle lodges to eco-camps. Best part? You are just minutes from the Bijrani and Jhirna safari gates.
📍 Dhikuli, Ramnagar
Tip · Jim's Jungle Retreat near Dhela and Aahana near Ramnagar are absolute gems for full-board stays. Bonus: most places here will sort out your safari bookings for you.
- 41:30 PMFood
Lunch at the resort
Feast on a hearty local Kumaoni thali or hit the buffet. Remember, the national park is strictly dry and vegetarian, so get your fix of meat and drinks right here.
- 53:30 PMSight
Garjiya Devi Temple
Perched on a wild 60-foot rock in the middle of the Kosi, this Shakti shrine sits 14 km north of Ramnagar on the park's edge. Climb the steep steps to the deity as roaring river water rushes below.
📍 Garjiya Devi Temple, Ramnagar
Tip · It gets incredibly packed during Kartik Purnima (Nov-Dec) when the whole rock is lit up. Avoid weekend evenings if you want to skip the crowds!
- 65:00 PMSight
Corbett Museum
A neat little museum tracking the life of hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett. Browse his personal belongings and learn how India's first national park came to carry his name.
📍 Corbett Museum, Ramnagar
- 77:00 PMActivity
Kosi riverside evening and bonfire
Watch dusk settle over the riverbed from the resort lawn, listen for wild sambar alarm calls across the water, then gather for dinner around the bonfire. Sleep early, tomorrow we safari!
Tip · Pack some serious layers if you are visiting between October and February. Riverside nights get freezing, dropping to around 4 degrees C in peak winter!
Day 2
A sunrise safari search and heading back home- 85:45 AMActivity
Morning jeep safari, Bijrani or Jhirna zone
Hop in a registered open Gypsy (max 6 seats) with a naturalist through sal forests and grasslands for tigers, elephants, deer, and 500-plus bird species. Morning slots start 5:45-6:30 AM depending on the season.
📍 Bijrani Zone, Jim Corbett National Park
Tip · Permits open 45 days ahead for Indians and 90 for foreigners, and they sell out for weekends. A Gypsy runs about Rs 1,800-2,500, plus permit and guide fees.
- 910:00 AMFood
Late breakfast at the resort
Return dusty and happy for a massive breakfast. Swap your sighting stories; even without a tiger, spotting wild elephants, spotted deer, and hornbills completely makes the morning!
Tip · If you want the ultimate tiger-spotting odds, plan a future trip staying inside the core zone at Dhikala Forest Rest House. It books out ages in advance and has a strict 3-night cap.
- 1011:30 AMActivity
Birdwatching walk along the Kosi
Ramnagar's riverbanks and forest edges are a paradise for birding. Keep your eyes peeled for kingfishers, wallcreepers, and fish eagles on guided walks run by resorts and local birders.
📍 Kosi River, Ramnagar
- 111:00 PMFood
Kumaoni lunch
Dig into one final mountain feast! Try traditional Kumaoni dishes like bhatt ki churkani and mandua rotis at your resort or head to Cafe HoHo near the Dhela gate.
📍 Cafe HoHo, Dhela, Ramnagar
- 122:30 PMSight
Sitabani buffer forest (optional)
Still craving adventure? The Sitabani-Jhirna buffer areas stay open year-round, allowing relaxed drives past temples and streams. It is a much gentler, less regulated experience than the core zones.
📍 Sitabani Forest, Ramnagar
Tip · The perfect monsoon backup plan: when Dhikala and Bijrani close down from mid-June to mid-November, Jhirna and Sitabani keep running.
- 133:30 PMDrive
Drive back to Delhi
Head back down NH 9, stopping for a hot chai at Moradabad or Gajraula. You should roll into Delhi around 9:30-10 PM, but factor in extra time for the notorious Sunday-evening Ghaziabad traffic.
Where to eat
Delicious local hill food (bhatt dal, gahat, and mandua roti) is served at resorts and Cafe HoHo near the Dhela gate, which specializes in Kumaoni and traditional Indian meals.
Gajraula is the legendary breakfast stop on your drive out. Do not skip their famous stuffed parathas and piping-hot chai!
Canteens at Dhikala and the gates serve simple, strictly vegetarian meals. Just remember, non-vegetarian food and alcohol are completely banned inside the park.
When to go
Every zone is open, the air is crisp, and it is the prime time for wildlife spotting. Since nights plunge to about 4 degrees C, bring heavy layers for those chilly open-jeep morning safaris.
It gets sizzling hot (up to 44 degrees C), but the dry forests force animals to waterholes, making tiger sightings peak. Bonus: morning safaris start at their earliest now.
Monsoon time means the core Dhikala and Bijrani zones shut down. However, the Jhirna, Dhela, and Sitabani buffer zones stay open all year round.
Permits and Dhikala forest rest house beds sell out lightning-fast for Friday-Sunday trips. Be ready to book the absolute second your booking window opens!
Good to know
- Grab your safari permits the exact day the window opens (45 days ahead for Indians, 90 for foreigners). And do not forget to pack the same photo ID you used for the booking!
- Stick to muted colors and skip the bright outfits. Also, never walk around alone at dawn or after dark; remember, this is real, untamed jungle territory.
- When you are in the Dhikala zone, keep your snacks hidden. The local monkey troops are bold and will absolutely mob anyone carrying food openly!
- Stretching your stay to a second night and booking two safaris in different zones practically doubles your chances of spotting a tiger. Day-trippers rarely get that lucky!
